Flood at the ranch

[CarlS]

I went to the ranch yesterday for the first time since tropical storm Debbie. I had to wait until I could get to my home with a 4X2. It has been four weeks since Debbie flooded Suwanee County with 26 inches/66 centimeters of rain. The ground was pretty well saturated from the previous tropical storm three weeks earlier. While my home and the ranch owner's home were high and dry. All access was cut off. She could only get out by boat. Many roads in the county are closed and one can only drive across the county on I10. US 90 is still flooded in places as are many of the back roads. Some homes are still flooded, though the water has dropped about four feet. The Suwanee River has crested so things will slowly drain down - then repairs can begin.

This is the entrance to ranch. Looking towards the upper right is 27th Road Looking to the lower right is the ranch entrance, my driveway. Looking to the left is 192d Avenue. Obviously these roads are only accessible by boat and swamp buggy.



This photo shows 27th Road looking north. This is the way I usually come to my house. Notice the high water mark on the oak to the right. Our mailboxes were completely under water. At left center, you can see the street sign for 192nd Ave and 27th Rd. There are spots in the road where the water is still eight feet/2.4 meters deep.



This 27th Road in normal times looking south. 192nd Ave goes to the ride and the ranch entrance to the left. The red arrow points to my house.



Fortunately there is a back entrance to ranch; but this was flooded and impassible to even 4X4's for four days.



This shot is normally pasture. A small pond has become a big lake. Note the fish striking near the center of the photo.



Flooded timberland on the ranch.

 

[Rocky]

Wow, that IS serious flooding!!
Good that your buildings are OK though.

 

[CarlS]

She lost a new born calf which drowned drying to follow its momma through the water.

 

[hemibee]

I was wondering how the ranch was doing. It will dry out and life will return to normal, just be careful with the clean up work. Our thoughts and prayers are with the folks in Florida.

Some times a little rain must fall, so goes life of the Gulf Coast. There are some other areas I might have fun living in but there's no place like the Third Coast.


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[keystiger]

Thats a bunch of rain Carl. Glad the buildings are o.k. but sorry to hear about the issues.

The real question........has the Tiger gone aquatic? Or at least I hope you found some time to play in the mud.

 

[DaveM]

Wow that is bad and seeing the before and after shot really give a idea just how much water that is

 

[CarlS]

Tony, I live smack in between the First Coast and the Third Coast. I get the benefits of both.

Adrian, the Tiger went aquatic in North Carolina last year fording creeks and streams. She definitely has gotten her feet wet. I went up to the ranch in the truck because I had stuff to haul up there. If I had taken the Tiger there is is no place to ride except on the ranch and on paved roads. The tiger does well in water; but in many places the water is six feet deep and deeper. I would need a snorkel, and exhaust extension, and some major water proofing to ride the back roads. Even bubba trucks can't get through some places.

 

[hemibee]

Tony, I live smack in between the First Coast and the Third Coast. I get the benefits of both.

Yes sir, you get the benefit from both coasts. Next little dry spell we have, maybe you can send a little our way. . . but then again y'all had a little dry spell too but like us your making up for it like gangbusters. We have a bit of tropical moisture hanging over us right now. It's caught between a cool front (in Texas in July?) and a low pressure ridge and we are getting some much needed relief. I wanted to burn the roads up this weekend but I think I'll just enjoy the cool weather and watch the rain.

 

[CarlS]

Yes, until two months ago northern Florida was under a severe drought. We were having to feed the cattle hay in the Spring. There was no grass growing. We certainly are not under a drought now!

 

[hemibee]

The last draught here taught the farmers a forgotten lesson, cut the hay when you can, don't wait and let it grow higher to try and get more from less cuttings. They waited too long at the first of the draught and lost the hay. This year they are cutting earlier and have actually gotten additional cuts on a lot of the fields.


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[CarlS]

Yes, we always learn from the natural cycles - be it new lessons or forgotten old lessons. Fortunately, my firend had ample hay left from the winter; we had a mild winter. They adjacent ranch to her east and south lost 100 acres of hay on that ranch alone due to the flooding. They are about to lose another 150 acres.

 

[Rocky]

Fire and water are two wonderful things - until they run amok - then they ain't quite so wonderful.
We've been having a long period of dry and hot (for us) weather. Lakes are low; some drilled wells are dry; crops aren't doing well - also unusual for us.
The forests are closed and the fire index is extreme. Fingers are crossed here and hoping for the best - and a little rain.

 

[avion]

Glad to hear that the floods didn't take out the farm, over here you always hear about people trying to drive through flooded rivers and end up down stream somewhere. They just can't grasp the power that moving water has. Even after a flood, you don't know whats under the water: rocks, steel pipes, potholes.

Love watching all the Sandton (rich snobs) 4x4's getting towed out of the road. Money can't buy common sense. Bwahahahaha


...

 

[CarlS]

You are right about that. I have seen a bunch of vehicles pulled out of the water on the roads in Suwanee and Columbia Counties.